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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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So I sent Mark a link to this Temp Control on Ebay. We both got one. Well here's the link to someone building it out to work both with Cooling and Heating. Pretty sweet build. I can't wait to start my build out for under the stairs.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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Comrade Chad wrote:
We both got one.
We both ordered one. I haven't gotten one. 
How'd they ship it? UPS? USPS? FedEx?.....
Thanks for the link! 
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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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Comrade Mark wrote:
We both ordered one. I haven't gotten one. 
How'd they ship it? UPS? USPS? FedEx?.....
Thanks for the link! 
They shipped it in an envelope that said Air Mail. Really crapping packaging, but no damage to the contents. I just can't wait to hook it up.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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So I guess it came in your mailbox. I'll be watching for my mail chick.

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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
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No luck today. 
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| dsajda |
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Joined: 11/18/2009
Posts: 51
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Cool, may need tpo order one myself.
CB Don
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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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So I was looking at the Air Mail package and realized I've seen it before. I bought a portable battery powered Aquarium Pump from the same company last year. I guess they had me on file.,
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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Guess what was in my mailbox, today. Yep. And what with tomorrow being a holiday (Texas Independance Day, FYI), I just might find the time (and the gumption) to cobble something together.

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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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Cool Cool
. I look forward to seeing your build. Hopefully I won't be to far behind you.... Send me the deets when you get done.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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Went to Radio Shack for a box, none deep enough. Checked online & it's the same there. Gotta find a box.
EDIT: Just looked at your link to the build and the guy says he used a Radio Shack project box. I knew there was a reason I went there in the first place. I guess I didn't allow for the part of the controller that'll be on the outside of the box.
Back to The Shack! 
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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I haven't quite finished putting everything together, but should have pics in the next few days. I bought the biggest project box from Radio Shack. I ran the wiring in the above referenced thread by a friend of mine who is way over-qualified for this kind of thing and he suggested putting a GFCI in there to protect everything. Here's the wiring diagram I made from his instructions.

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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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I still need to label the plugs.
Switched ones are: Top-right = Heat. Bottom-right = Cool.
The plugs in the GFCI are always ready.

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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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Dang the readout looks pretty good. Have you plugged it in to your fridge? What asweet find.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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I haven't hooked the fridge up to it yet. Heck, I just finished the wiring right before taking that pic. I should probably do that before I commit a beer to its control, though. 
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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By the way, I noticed after everything was done that there was a note talking about a capacitor that should be connected with the temp. sensor, but a capacitor wasn't included. Same for you?
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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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Yeah I saw the same note, but I didn't have a capacitor. My buddy who looked at it (electrician) thinks the capacitor is built in. I figured I'd wait till I had it hooked up to see if that was the case.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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According to some other thermometers, it seems to be keeping the liquid a bit colder than the setting. It's anywhere from 2-8 degrees colder, depending on which one I use.
I think I'll probably switch back to my tried-n-true Johnson Controls thermostat for the batch I brew this weekend.
I haven't tried the heating mode, yet. One thing at a time.
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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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Have you tried it with something activley fermenting? How do you have the probe attached? I tape my probe to the side of my carboy with a couple layers of paper towel as a buffer.
~Comrade in Arms~
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| Comrade Mark |
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www.RandyStoat.com Joined: 11/13/2009
Posts: 253
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I have not tried it with a beer, yet. I've put the probe inside the container under the lid (not in the water), above it, below it and beside it. I haven't taped it to the outside of it. I'll try that while the next batch is fermenting, but I won't be using it to control the refrigerator - just so I can watch it.
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| Comrade Chad |
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 114
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I think you want to try and isolate it from the ambient air as much as possible.
~Comrade in Arms~
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